Spacing table for machines for punching beams and the like



Allg. 30, 1932. Rl H McCLlN-rl 1,875,080

SPAGING TABLE FOR MAGHTNES FOR PUNGHING BEAMS ND THE LIKE l -if- YQ `-fu ln N 1' Nl L J .SUNW ro LN: M

fm "b la W l L V- lNvENToR WMHMW W Aug. 3o, 1932. R, H, MCCLINTIC 1,875,080

SPACNG TABLES FOR MACHINES FOR PUNCHING BEAMS AND THE LIKEy Filed Nov. l5, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 17M H Q was@ Aug. 3o, 193.2.` R H, MCCUNTIC 1,875,080

SPACINGTABLES FOR MACHINES FOR PUNCHING BEAMS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 15, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' INVENTOR MQW , spacing-table or support, the carriage being fri Patented Aug. 30, 1932 nais stares P'l'lil'l' ROBERT H. IVICCLINTIQ OF PITTSBURGH., PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, 'EO T/ICCLINTIC-MARSHLALL CORPORATION, A CORPORATION GF ENN- SYLVANIA SEACING TABLE FOR MACHINES 'FOR PUNCHING BEAMS AND TEE LIKE Application led November 15, 1930. Serial No.

In the presentpractice the beam `to be punched is held in a carriage or Vbuggy which travels by intermittent movement along a caused toy halt kat the proper positions for thepunchin operations by means-of stops engaged by the carriage and the stops being in turn retracted to permit the next advance of the carriage.

After the punching of the kbeam has been completed it is released from the carriage and lifted laterally off the spacing table.

The object which I have in view is the improvement ofthe spacing table whereby the placing of the stop-members in operative position may be automatically,accomplished and-the stop members may be individually and automatically retracted from the path of the beam as the correspondingpunching operation is accomplished'. 1

For this purpose I have devised the mechanism hereinafter'described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated a practical embodiment of the `principles of my invention, but which are not intended to limit the scope ofthe latter to the construction` shown. Fig. l isa broken planV view ofthe beam-punch and the spacing table, two of my improved stop members being shown in their operative position.

Fig. 2 is a. broken side elevation ofthe same. i

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken along the line 8-.3 in Fig.V l, the stop member being shown in its operative position in full lines and itsposition when retracted being indicated in` part in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail partially in section taken along the line 4 4 in Fig. 3, the rock shaft being omitted. y l

Fig. 5 is a side elevation-of the key block.

Fig. 6 is an end view of one'of the stop members, the left end in Fig. V3. I

Fig...7 is a diagrammatic view showing the wiring of the motorvvhich operates to re tract the stop members individually.

Fig. Sis aside elevation of a hand-operated stop member.

Figui) is a plan view ofthe'same.Y

speed reducer mechanism l?.

Referrin to the drawings the punch head is indicated in Fig. l at l in dott-ed lines. The horizontally disposed spacing table along which the beam to be punched is moved comprises a plurality of horizont-ally disposed rollers 2 arranged in spaced relation as indicated inFig. l. These rollers are mounted with their load supporting surfaces in the same horizontal plane.

rlfhns I have indicated a supporting frame comprising the channel beams 8 on which are mounted the angle beams l and the ends of the rollers are journaled in suitable bearin in the anglebeams. rlhe angle l eams l may be connected together at proper intervals by cross braces, suoli as 5. The channel beams 3 are supported on any suitable foundation.

Along'one side of the spacing table a large I-girder 6 extends for which a suitable foundation is provided.

, .7 represents a plurality of split bearings which are mounted on the girder 6 at suitable intervals, and 8 represents a. horizont-ally disposed shaft journaled in said bearings for oscillation on its longitudinal axis.

rlhe shaft is provided with a plurality of circumferentially disposed ribs 9 which are equallyY spaced apart and provide between them what may be termed annular grooves which are of the same width as the ribs. 'Ihe ribs do not extend completely around the shaft 8 but are interrupted as at l() in Fig. l, the gaps being at what is the top of the shaft when the latter is at rest.

rIlhe front end of the shaft is provided with a collar 1l which bears against the front end bearing` 7 while the other end of the shaft beyond the other end bearing 7 is provided with a collar l2 arranged to rotate in unison with the shaft. The shaft is thus prevented from longitudinal movement.

rlhe collar l2 is provided with a. radially disposed arm I3 and said arm is provided at its outer end with a split eccentric strap lll which surrounds and rides on an eccentric disk l5 driven by the motor I6 through the It is obvious that when the motor 16 is in operation the shaft 8 is Oscillated on its longitudinal anis.

18 represents the stop members, two of y which are shown in Fig. 1. It will be understood thatany required number of stop members are to be provided.

- rlhese stop members are in the formV of meta-l bars disposed transversely ofthe spacing table vand havingat one end, the right i end in Fig. 3, a half round socket 19 v,which is providedv with circumferentially disposed lribs 2() of proper' dimensions. to fit in the groovesbetween the ribs" 9 of theshaft l8, the grooves between the ribs of the half-socket 19 being of proper ldimensions to receive the ribs 9 of the shaft 8.

I Thus the stop members 18 may be swung, with the shaft 8 as an' axis, from their'operative'position shownin solid'lines-in Fig. 3 to their retracted position shown jin dotted lines in Fig; 3, and vice versa, the interlacing vof the'ribs 9 and 2Oy however preventing al Amovement of the stop memberslongitudinal-y ly of the shaft 8. f

The other or free endsof the stop members,

that is the left end in Fig. y3, are provided withheads 21 having on their ends the spaced A apart v.parallel ribs 22 with .interveningl "'girder'25, the beam beingsupported in the langular.position shown in Fig'. 3.

The beam V23 has one of its faces'provided with*v transversely disposed parallel ribs 26 with intervening grooves lof the same width,- Vand the ribs 22 of the head 21 of the stop memberv18 interlace with the ribs 26 of the Y' beam 23 when the stop member is in its operative orhorizontal position. "Thusthe stop' member is' held at Vboth ends against the movement longitudinallyof thespacing table.

Vhena beam iste be punched the operator 'determines from the blue print orother direcp Y tions'fu'rnishedhim the position of'theholes or groups'of holes to ,bek punched in the beam, vand he then places-the required-number of stop members inv proper yposition along the spacingtable with theirhalf .sockets 19 en- Y i f gaging'the shaft 8 and their headsY 21 engaging the beam-23.

` The-bea1n tofbe punched indicated at 27 in 3' is introduced at the frontend of the spacing-table, that is the'right end in Figs.

`1 and 2, and' is moved alonglthe same until its front or forward end engages the rst stop Amember 18. The punch head is then operat.- 'Y

ed and by means of electrical mechanism herel' inafterto be kdescribed the motor 16is energiz-ed, causing the shaft 8-to oscillatemoving first clockwise in andthenfcounter- Vclockwise, which osci lation, by means of connevctions hereinafter to be described, causes Y the stop member 18 Which has been engaged by the frontend ofthe beam 27 yto be retracted into its raised position, so that" the beam may thus be advanced further ,along is relieved therefrom.

acts to hold the key v29 in its retracted or in thetable until it engages thefnext stop meiii-v f ber and is positionedV to be subjected to they Y next'punching operation.

vTo enable a stop member 18 to be retracted y i 'by the oscillation of the shaftY 8 I provide th-ehalf round socket member 19 with a key-way 28 in which is mounted the key 29 10 of the ribs 9 and the key is provided with *f arranged for movementlongitudinally of the shaft. The key moves in the interruptions ribs 30 and intervening grooves 31 of proper' width v,so that when the key is in. one position,A

that showny in Fig. 4, its ribs 30 will mate withrv the grooves ofthe" shaft 8 so that the 'shaft'v 8 may be oscillated withoutswinging the,

stop member 18. "However, when the key 29 is moved into itsother position, that is fromv p .Y

righttoleftin Fig. 4:, its ribs 30 will mate with thefribs 9 of the shaft 8-so that when ther shaft is oscillated the stop member will be swung' with the shaft, Vthat is raised to'its retracted position indicated in dotted lines e* in Fig.'3.

The upper surface of the key 29 is lprovided n with a trigger socket 32 in? which is loosely extends up through an opening-in the half socket 19. rlhe upper end of the triggerl 33 i is provided with an eye 34 which isffiXedon .the end of a rocker Ishaft 35., The rockerV shaft 35 isjournaled rin brackets V3 6 "extendf 1 ing'upwardly from the stop member 18. f The y shaft 35 has Vfixed thereon the collars'ofa .p pair of depending brackets .38 whoselouter v ends are secured to an` impact .plate 89 whichV is normally'disposed ashort 'distance in front; of a shallow seat 40 in the front face of the stop member 18. The impact. plate 39y is of the proper dimensions so that when pressed*y d toward the stop member 18 it will retreat intoy the seat 40.

los.;

The helical spring 41V normally retains'the impact plate 39 spaced forwardly'from thei y stop 18 and returns'rthe plate tosuch spaced* relation when the-pressure of the beam 27 TheA spring 41 also operative position showninV Fig. 4; andto A return it thereto vwhenthe 'pressure' ofbeain-I 27 is relieved from the impact plate.

vrlhus when the Vforward Vend ofthe beam 27 engages the impact plate 39 'of a stop inember 1,8, the beam presses the impact plate 39 into the seat 40 and then icomes to rest. The movement ofthe impact plate causes the key 29 to 'moveinto its operative. position .with its ribs 30 mating with the ribs 9 of the shaft 8 so that as the-motor 16 is energized and l the shaft 18lis rocked clockwisev in Fig. e the stop member 18 israised into its retracted i j 'Y Position indicated in'dotted lines in Fig. Y3,V`V i.,

rthus permitting the beam27 to be againV ad-f vanced until its end engages and presses in the impactplate 39 of the next stopV mein? ber 18. Means hereinafter toL be describedv sa seated the lower endv of 'a trigger Swhichy 1 f are provided for latching a stop member in its retracted position and thus preventing the stop-member from dropping down upon the Mbeam. Y "y The wiring and control circuits of the motor 16 are diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 7. Thus 42 vand* 42 indicate the conductors of the line circuit and 43 and 44 the FP,motor circuit. A magnetic switch 45 is arlfflranged to connect the conductor 42 with the conductor 43 and the conductor 42 with the conductor 44. Such switch is operated by means of a solenoid 46 whose wire 47 is n"connected at one end to the conductor 42 "and at its other end to a conductor 48 of a double control circuit. The otherconductor 49 of said double Control circuit is connected to the conductor 42. At either end of the dou- M le control circuit 48-49 l provide a limit 26switch. Thus the limit switch 50 is operated bythe rocking lever 51 intermediately pivoted to a suitable support and the other end of the lever is held as by means of the spring FA52 in contact with the frog-arm 53 of the u clutch 54 of the punch head, the engaging of the clutch 54 causing the punch head to operate and its disengaging causingr the cessation of the operation of the punch head, and Mthe arrangement is such that when the clutch 36 54 is thrown inthe switch 50 is closed and when the clutch'is thrown out the switch 50 is opened. A-t-the other end of the double control circuit I provide the contact switch r 55v operated by a lever 56 pivotally connected 3'5" to a suitable support intermediate of its ends. The lever 56 is held in resilient engagement as by a spring 57 with a cam 58 moving with the shaft 8 and'which may be mounted'on the collar 12. In Fig. 7 the shaft 8 is aslo` sumed to be at'its position of restand in that position the cam 58 holds the switch 55 open. -When the clutch 54 is thrown in'by the operator to operate the punch'head the switch 50 is closed, thus connecting up the solenoid conductor 47 in circuit with the supply conductors 42 and 42V', and thus energizing the solenoid to close the magnetic switch 45. The

closingof the switch 45 closes the motor cir- A cuit and causes the motor 16 to operate, thus causing the shaft 8 toV turn on its longitudinal and allowing the magntic switch 45 to open, a

spring 59 being provided for automatically opening the switch when the solenoid is deenergized. It is evident that as soon as the members is provided with a radially disposed barrel 60 in which is slidably mounted the latch pin 61, said pin being caused to protrude from said barrel by means of the helical spring 62. As the stop member is lifted into its retracted position the latch pin 61 trails down over the front of va horizontally disposed bar 63 and then springs outwardly and latches beneath the bottom kedge of said bar as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, thus latching the stop member 18 in its retracted position.

The bar 63 is supported by means of brackets 64L whose other ends are provided with collars which are keyed on la horizontally disposed shaft 65 journaledin split bearings 66 carried by brackets 67 mounted on the girder 6. Also keyed to the shaft 65 is an arm 68 whose other end is connected by a link 69 to the piston rod 70 of a pneumatic cylinder 71. The cylinder 71 is provided with suitable control valves of any convenient type, not shown, whereby the shaft 65 may be rocked on its longitudinal axis.

' During the progress of the operation of punching a beam the stop members 18 are in turn retracted as the beam progresses along the spacing table and after the beam has been removed from the spacing-table the pneumatic cylinder 71 is operated to rock the shaft 65th-st in a clockwise position, thus releasing the latch pins of all the retracted stop arms and allowing the stop arms to assume their horizontal position and then in a counterclockwise position to restore the bar 63 to its normal position.

The return of the shaft 8 to its normal position. of rest does not tend to restore the stop arms to their normal or operative position owing to the fact that the springs 41 automatically return the keys 29 to their retracted or inoperative position shown in Fig. 4 as soon as the pressure of the end of the beam 27 is relieved from the impact plate.

To enable the operator to properly position the various stop members 18 along the spacing table to enable the holes to be spotted in the right positions in the beam provide a gage extending parallel to the table. Thus at 72 in Fig. 3 I indicate a gage mounted on the beam 23 and this gage may be graduated so vas to determine the proper positions of theseveral stop members. f

' I .fToenabl-'e the stop-member' to operateab-Y curatelyin lhaltinga beam at exactly the proper position I provide impact plateszf) `of differentthi'ckness,the proper plate being *mounted onthe stop member so 'that the beam r will be properly halted. Otherwise the beam .would be halted. at intervals dictatedvby Vthe ribs cnthe shaft8. j I 1 Q Ifalsoprovide hand-operated stop mem# ""bers, such as illustrated atv 18a in Figs. 8 and 9, the same being positioned and removed by hand."l Thus when ay beaml isv to bev punched adjacent .toitsfront Vend orrwhere butaasingle beam isto be punched, these hand op'k C'erated stops may be used. Insuch case the impact plate 39' and the mechanism for automatically retracting. the stop is not required. kThe advantages of myspacing table having a# workingv surface comprising rollers y 2(ialongwhich the `beam is. moved are numerous.v Thuskv the beam is simply run off the. far end ofthe spacing table andrdoes notV need to be liftedlaterally therefromfas in rthe, present practice. .What I claim iszy .i l. In apparatus for punching beams .and the like, the combinationwith the'punch head and the spacing table of a stop member arranged to beipositioned in the .pathv of vthe Asbeam onthe spacing table, operative connection `between the punch head and the stop.

, member whereby the stop member is retract# ed'fromfthe path ofthe beam when the latter is punched, and means whereby said operaigli,ti've connection is completed by the engage-V ment of the stop member by the beam.

f2. .In apparatus for punching beams and the Vlike,"the combination with 'the punchy `head andthe spacing table `of* a plurality 40T of stopv members. arranged lto be positioned i in spaced relation along the path of the beam on the spacing table whereby to position the i i beam for 'the different punching operations,

and meanswhereby as each punching operafl" tion is performedv the corresponding stop member/is retracted vrfrom the path of the' beam topermit the llatter to be ladvanced to the neXt stop member. l j f V3. In apparatus for punching beams and f the like, the combinationwith'the punch head and thespacing table of a plurality of stop members arranged to'be positionedin spaced relationalongfthe path of the beam on ythe spacing table whereby to vposition the beam 'Y '55T forthe Vdifferentpunching operations, means"v whereby as each punchingoperation 1s performed the corresponding stop.y member is retractedfrom the pathof the beam to per.- A i mitthe latter to be advanced to the next stop y Ae0 memberfand means Vwhereby as each'stb'p member is retracted itsisretained infits rei tracted position. v t.Vv In apparatus Y the li ke, the combination with thepunch i' Y 'B5 f head and the spacing tableof a plurality off forl punching beams andY stop *members* arranged toibe-fpositioned in spaced relationalong'the path-ofthe beam on the spacing table'whereby to position the beam for the differentv punching operations, means whereby aseach punching operation is performed the corresponding. stop vmem-:

to permit theV latter Ito be advanced tothe next ystop memberfmeanswhereby as eachl stop member is retractedlt is retained 1n its retracted position, and means vfor-releasing "'.ber is retracted fromV the; path of the beam the stop members from their retracted posi-V l,

tions! V5.` In apparatusfor punching beams and 4so...-A

the like, the combination with the punchvhead andthe sp acing table of `a stop member are ranged'formovement into and out of the path lof the beam, means arrangedrtofbe connected to the stop member to retract the same, said kmeans' being` actuated, when .a punching op-v 85.. eration is performed, andmeans whereby.'

when tliebeam engages the stopfmember the latter is operatively lconnected to said retracting means.

6. In apparatus'for punching :beamsand the like, the combination with the punch headv andthe spacing 1table ofjiay v stop member ar.-V ranged for movement into and out of the' path of the beam, means arrangedto be connected* to the stopjmeinberto retractthe'same, saidhk means Vbeing actuated whena punching 'op-.

eration is performed, means whereby when the beam engages.thestopinember the latter is operatively. connected to vsaid retractng means,1a'nd means forpreventing'the acci. dental releasev of "the retracted Vstop member.

'7.'In apparatus for punching beams and j the like, thejcombination. with the punch headv and the spacing tableof a yplurality of stop`V members arranged to be positioned inspaced. .relation alongvrthe path of the beamen the' les4 spacingta'ble whereby to Zpositionthebe'am f, forthe different .punching operations, said stop membersbeing arranged for :movement: Y into and out of. the'patlr of the beammeans` arranged tobe connected with the individuall stopk members to retract'` the lattery out ofthe v Y` 'path of the beam,lsaid retracting meansbeing.l Vactuated when .a pimchingoperation is p.er formed, andmeans ,whereby when the beam engages one'of thestop membersthe latterfis operatively connected.. to the.y Vretracting 8. In apparatus for punching. beams Yand the like, the combination with thepunch head:k .and the spacing table offra plurality .of stop.v p. .members arrangedto bepositionedzin spaced relation along thenpathvofithe beamen theA means, and means for holding the individual f ment into and out of the path of the beam,

actuated when a punching operation is performed, means whereby when the beam engages one of the stop members the latter is operatively connected to the retracting stop members retracted.

9. lnapparatus Jfor punchingbeams and the like, the combination with the punch head and the spacing table of a plurality of 10 stop members arranged to be positioned in spaced relation along the path of the beam on the spacing table Vwhereby Ato position the beam for the different punching operations, said stop members being arranged for movemeans arranged to be connected with the individual stop members to retract the latter out 01 the path of the beam, said retracting means being actuated when a punching operation is performed, means whereby when the beam engages one of the stop members the latter is operatively connected to the retracting means, and means for releasing the retracted stop members.

10. In apparatus for punching beams and the like, the combination with'the punch head and the spacing table of a plurality of stop members arranged to be positioned in spaced relation along the pathof the beam on the spacing table` whereby to position the beam for the diierent punching operations, an element arranged for oscillation, means Whereby said element is oscillated when a punching operation is performed, and means whereby when a stop member is engaged by the beam it is operatively connected to the element and is retracted out of the path of the beam by the movement thereof.

11. In apparatus for punching beams and '40 the like, the combination with the punch head and the spacing table of a plurality of stop members arranged to be positioned in spaced K relation along the path of the beam on the spacing table whereby to position the beam for the diilerent punching operations, an element arranged for oscillation, means whereby said element is oscillated when a punching operation is performed, means whereby when a stop member is engaged by the beam it is operatively connected to the element and is retracted out of the path of the beam by the movement of the oscillating element, and means for retaining the stop member retracted.

12. In apparatus for punching beams and the like, the combination with the punch head, of a spacing table provided with a plurality of rollers, stop members arranged to be placed in the path of the beam along the spacing table, and means whereby when the front end of the beam engages a stop member and the punch is operated, the stop member is retracted from the path of the beam.

Signed at Pittsburgh, Pa., this 14th day of November, 1930.

ROBERT H. MGCLINTIC. 

